safety
San Francisco's fireworks show ends in hours of gridlock involving Waymo cars
By Ali Reid at NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC)
· July 5, 2026
· 3 min read
San Francisco ’s Fourth of July celebration along the city’s waterfront quickly turned into hours of gridlock, dangerous fireworks incidents and a surge in emergency calls.
Thousands packed Crissy Field to watch fireworks launched from the Golden Gate Bridge. But once the show ended, it wasn’t ...
Key takeaway Thousands packed Crissy Field to watch fireworks launched from the Golden Gate Bridge.
Why this matters in The San Francisco
The gridlock and safety concerns that marred San Francisco's Fourth of July celebration raise questions about the city's ability to manage large events and ensure public safety. The involvement of Waymo cars in the traffic backup highlights the challenges of integrating autonomous vehicles into the city's transportation infrastructure, particularly in unpredictable situations. As the city continues to invest in autonomous vehicle technology, it must also prioritize the development of protocols for emergency response and crowd management. The fact that firefighters responded to over 500 calls for service, including serious fireworks-related injuries, underscores the need for more effective strategies to prevent and respond to emergencies during large events. The city's residents and visitors deserve a safer and more efficient experience, and it is up to city officials to learn from this incident and implement changes to prevent similar chaos in the future.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) . The San Francisco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 5, 2026 ·
Source: NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? San Francisco’s Fourth of July celebration along the city’s waterfront quickly turned into hours of gridlock, dangerous fireworks incidents and a surge in emergency calls.
Thousands packed Crissy Field to watch fireworks launched from the Golden Gate Bridge. But once the show ended, it wasn’t ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 5, 2026 by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) and curated for The San Francisco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Ali Reid at NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC). To learn more about how The San Francisco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The San Francisco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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